Ahmadou Ahidjo
First President of the United Republic of Cameroon, 1960-1982, Cameroonian, 1924-1989
Death PlaceDakar, Senegal, Africa
Place of BirthGaroua, Cameroon, Africa
Born in Garoua and educated at Yaoundé, Ahmadou Ahidjo began his career as a radio administrator, he soon turned to politics and was elected to the Cameroonian territorial assembly in 1947. After an interim in the Assembly of the French Union, he was reelected to the territorial assembly and was its president from 1956 to 1957, when he was appointed minister of the interior and deputy prime minister. He was elevated to the post of prime minister the following year. When Cameroon became independent in 1960, Ahidjo was elected president. Reelected at five-year intervals through 1980, he resigned the presidency in 1982 and leadership of the ruling National Cameroonian Union in 1983.
WASHINGTON, March 13 - Ahmadou Ahidjo, President of the Federal Republic of Cameroon, arrived today for a two-day state visit. The 38-year old leader of the West African republic was greeted at the Washington National Airport by President Kennedy.
In his welcoming remarks President Kennedy paid tribute to "one of the youngest Presidents in the world" for the leadership he had shown "in uniting a country with different languages which had not known a sense of nationhood and community until recent years." President Kennedy expressed admiration for President Ahidjo's efforts to obtain a better life for his people and the hope that his visit would further those efforts. It was a most fortunate time for the visit, President Kennedy said, because Cameroon was not only the geographical hinge upon which Africa turned, but could also become the political and economic hinge.
Replying in French, President Ahidjo said his nation had followed with great attention President Kennedy's "dynamic policies" and his "efforts to consolidate friendship among nations." Africans, he said, were grateful for the attitude of the president of the United States "toward our continent."
Before exchanging greetings, a twenty-one gun salute was fired for the visiting head of state and the Cameroon and United Stated national anthems were played. After the airport ceremony, the two presidents rode to Blair House, the government's guest house.
At 1 p.m. President Kennedy gave a state luncheon for the Cameroon president at the White House. After lunch they conferred on a broad range of subjects, including the Congo, United Nations problems, decolonization of remaining dependent territories in Africa and economic aid.
WASHINGTON, March 13 - Ahmadou Ahidjo, President of the Federal Republic of Cameroon, arrived today for a two-day state visit. The 38-year old leader of the West African republic was greeted at the Washington National Airport by President Kennedy.
In his welcoming remarks President Kennedy paid tribute to "one of the youngest Presidents in the world" for the leadership he had shown "in uniting a country with different languages which had not known a sense of nationhood and community until recent years." President Kennedy expressed admiration for President Ahidjo's efforts to obtain a better life for his people and the hope that his visit would further those efforts. It was a most fortunate time for the visit, President Kennedy said, because Cameroon was not only the geographical hinge upon which Africa turned, but could also become the political and economic hinge.
Replying in French, President Ahidjo said his nation had followed with great attention President Kennedy's "dynamic policies" and his "efforts to consolidate friendship among nations." Africans, he said, were grateful for the attitude of the president of the United States "toward our continent."
Before exchanging greetings, a twenty-one gun salute was fired for the visiting head of state and the Cameroon and United Stated national anthems were played. After the airport ceremony, the two presidents rode to Blair House, the government's guest house.
At 1 p.m. President Kennedy gave a state luncheon for the Cameroon president at the White House. After lunch they conferred on a broad range of subjects, including the Congo, United Nations problems, decolonization of remaining dependent territories in Africa and economic aid.